BRIEFS ACCIONA utilises Digitunnel

As part of its commitment to innovation, ACCIONA has started to use Digitunnel, a new real-time technology to provide better control and ensure progress in the tunnel’s construction of its projects. This technology is a solution that collects and integrates enormous amounts of real-time information generated at the project site and transforms this data into meaningful information that is made available to all parties involved. It also provides increased safety for workers.

Cement Producers Warned Of Difficult Year Ahead

Following the Sixth General Assembly of the World Cement Association (WCA), WCA director, Emir Adiguzel provided a presentation on the outlook for 2023.

Reflecting on the past two years of postcovid high demand, Adigzuel emphasised how 2023 will be a difficult year for the cement industry, as a number of issues such as tighter monetary policies, increased sea freight rates and high fluctuations in the cost of energy may result in cement producers being gradually pressured to establish higher cement prices.

Secondly, Adiguzel highlighted that major multinational cement companies will continue to divest cement assets in emerging markets, thus creating a unique opportunity for players in such markets, including China, to enlarge their portfolios in positive growth markets by acquiring the cheapest European cement assets. Additionally, mid-size European cement producers may also benefit from recent decementation policies of global multinational cement producers to enlarge their portfolio.

“While we do not expect global cement volumes to increase, we expect prices to surge to double digits in 2023, as higher energy prices will have a serious impact on cement production costs,” said Adiguzel.

The International Cement Conference on Global Trade 2023 will be hosted by the World Cement Network (WCN), in association with WCA, and will take place from 23-24 May 2023, in person at the Hilton Bomonti in Istanbul, Turkey.

The conference will focus on many of the issues highlighted by Adiguzel and include presentations, round table discussions, power lunches, open contract negotiation bids for cement clinker, plenty of networking and a Gala Dinner Event.

SANRAL awards aid economic recovery

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has awarded four major construction tenders, collectively worth nearly US$391mn, for projects in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The awards will help boost the construction sector and is part of the broader national effort by government to invest in economic infrastructure. At least 30% of the contract value will be subcontracted to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).